Merry Christmas

For the Festive Season The Colonel had a special delivery sent for all the Staff at the BBR.   The Col. is seen here tending to it personally, with the staff eagerly awaiting the wagon door to be flung open.

The staff looks pretty contented with what has arrived from Burton On Trent !    "Great Stuff This Bass"  indeed.  Please Note I have no connection with BASS brewery,  outside of a very satisfied customer !   :)

Merry Christmas all,  hope everyone has a nice day with family & friends,  and a healthy happy 2019 !
Cheers
Felix

Video # 4 - Brief Running Session

  I felt in the mood to shoot a short video,  and run some trains.  After all that is what I'm building the railway for !   After reviewing the video,  a couple things seem very apparent.

1.  Need additional layout lighting -  apologies for the low light

2.  Realization that not that much has been accomplished on the layout this year,  mainly due to time being spent on equipment.  Construction of the Slaters 4 wheel coach,  couple wagons,  and work on a couple locomotives certainly took some time away from the layout.  Life also was busy.

Hoping 2019 will be a bit more productive in terms of the scenery and overall layout appearance.

 

Vintage Thursday

 Time for another trip down the track that heads to what was before.  Inspiration comes in many forms,  sometimes it's visiting a layout,  sometimes seeing a model in person,  sometimes vintage film of your favorite prototype, or a favorite photograph.  This week's vintage Thursday is a few photographs,  from a generic book titled "Model And Miniature Railways" by Patrick Whitehouse and John Adams.  A very large format book I've looked through hundreds of times from childhood to today,  some 25+ odd years.  The series of photographs below is one reason I've always had an interest in Victorian Steam Railways,  and a desire to build a model of them in some small way.

(Two others being Thomas The Tank Engine , and Ivo Peter's superb colour films).  

 The Layout is Dean Bridge,  and was built by Anthony Murray.  You don't see many model railways depicting the earlier periods of pre-grouping much these days.  Fantastic,  and the colour Photographs taken by B. Monaghan really brings it to life.  Enjoy !   (Oh,  and of course,  it's O gauge :)

 (Click On Photo for Full Size)

Windrush Junction Signal Box

 With the days getting shorter and the weather getting colder,  I've been finding more time to relax at my workbench with a nice cup of tea,  and a fun project. 

 This one was very enjoyable,  the signal box located at Windrush Junction.   The kit was made by Lcut ,  the second model I've built from them. (Kit # B70-07L Medium Signal Box Left Stairs).  Made in Great Britain.  Price was £17.99,  which I find to be very good value for money.   The kit went together like the engine shed,  very easy and everything fit well.  I did add a Skytrex interior kit.  In O scale,  the interiors of buildings are very visible,  especially ones with large windows,  so it's a must.   While adding the interior,  I made the decision to add interior LED lighting too,  as I thought it would show up well, factoring in where the signal box would be placed on the layout.  I don't plan on operating my railway too much in the dark,  but it will be nice to switch the interior lights on once and awhile in dim room lighting,  adding a bit of atmosphere to the scene.  Fun to photograph.

 The other modification made from the kit was changing the position of the stairs.  It was going to eat up too much space by having the stairs go straight.  So I added a few pieces and now have them coming down the side of the building,  more pleasing to my eye too.   

Overall I'm very happy how this particular scene is developing.  I try to picture the entire layout as a series of specific scenes all linked together to paint a portrait of a small railway in 1920s Somerset.

Next up is more track ballasting,  and more scenic projects.  Never a dull moment on the BBR !

 (Click on photos for full size)

Happy Birthday Col. Stephens

  Happy 150th Birthday to Colonel Holman Fred Stephens. (31 October 1868) For those who do not know the life of Col. Stephens (SHAME ON YOU !),  here is a brief summary from Wikipedia .   There is also a society dedicated to the Colonel,  check it out.

 My fictional O scale model railway is of course inspired by the many light railways that the Colonel either built,  or saved from total abandonment, and operated on a shoe string budget to keep them going.  For more info on his railways and some great photographs,  I highly recommend the book "The Colonel Stephens' Railways - View From The Past"  by John Scott Morgan.  

A brief note about the figure in the photos.  It's a really nice casting from Andrew Stadden,  very nicely detailed and fun to paint.  It's my first attempt at painting a proper 7mm figure.  They have other famous railway personalities too.

 For his Birthday,  the Colonel decided to inspect his latest project,  the construction of the Boxer Bay Railway.  So far so good, he's contented with the progress.  

May his life story continue to inspire many model railways into the future !

 Here he is inspecting the loco shed at Windrush Junction.  (click on photos to enlarge)

Road + Signal Box

It's been a busy October leaving little time for the railway,  however I try to work on it every day, even if it's as little as 10 minutes.  You'd be surprised how much one can accomplish in a week of just 10 minute mini work sessions.    

I've been working on another scene that I hope will be a nice vantage point.   An unpaved gravel road crossing and, directly across the signal box for Windrush Junction.  It's one of those nice inexpensive laser cut kits from Lcut,  which I find to be very good value for money.   Photo below shows progress so far.   Track ballasting is also progressing foot by foot,  very therapeutic and calming after a tough day :)    Cheers

Coaling Stage

  It has been a long time since my last update.  Summer time just isn't conducive to working on the model railway,  at least for me.  I generally use Summer to take a bit of a break from the layout,  go outside,  enjoy the warm weather etc...  but Fall is now here,  and I've been re-energized to get back to the railway !

  Progress on the BBR has not been completely idle though,   as I've developed the scene around the loco shed at Windrush Junction,  scratchbuilding this coaling stage and doing a bit of the scenery around it.  Most enjoyable to build using wood.  I didn't follow any particular plans,  just used a few photos from a couple Railway Bylines magazines for ideas.   It seems to suit the location well.   

 The observant will note the tunnel in the background,  which is also being engineered at the moment,  will cover that in another post.   A new video is also being prepared.    Who's excited for the forthcoming Minerva Manning Wardle loco :)

Vintage Thursday

  Time for another view from the past.  This time from June 1960's Model Railway News.  The following photos show the work of Mr W.S. Norris,  the very well known finescale O scale modeller.  His railway featured some of the finest scale track and locos seen in O back in the day.  His railway never fails to inspire me to get to work, and to improve my skills.

Slater's 4 Wheel Coach Build Finished

  It has been a long long time since the last update,  however I have not been unproductive.  There has been some good progress on both the railway,  and an important new piece of rolling stock.  Railway updates will be coming soon when I have more photogenic progress to show.

 I have now finished a project which took much longer then anticipated,  but I'm happy it's finished.  The first coach for the BBR is complete and ready for revenue service.  Okay it does need a bit of weathering,  but otherwise it is complete.   I decided to go with 2 different liveries,  as the coach is almost exclusively viewed from one side at a time.  It was a complex kit to build,  but overall very enjoyable.   Last point,  praise for Slater's,  as the kit was missing 1 of the roof lamp castings,  and they supplied the missing part to me super quick,  and for no charge.  

 Overall I would recommend this kit.   Well designed,  fit of all parts was excellent,  instructions well written with helpful diagrams,  price is very reasonable.  Made in the UK  :) 

Vintage Thursday

For Vintage Thursday this week we have 2 beautiful O gauge models built by C. G. Wright.  From the November 1961 issue of Model Railway News.  The Caption reads " From an era when "O" gauge was king and things smaller were slightly infra dig,  we bring you pictures of two locomotives that will remind the younger readers that good modelling is nothing new and,  perhaps,  instil a little nostalgia into the thoughts of older ones."   And that was in 1961 !   Stunning models out of the past.  LSWR Drummond  T14, and LSWR Adams  G6.  I wonder where they are now ?

Christmas in May !

  After a long hard day at work,  what could be a better welcome home then the following sight ?

My Minerva 57xx Riveted Pannier Tank,  a GWR Iron Mink van,  plus  the G0G May Gazette,  and Niki guarding it until my arrival :) 

 The 57xx is another super model from Minerva,  had a quick test run on the railway.  It runs super smooth, and is very quiet.

 So what is a Col Stephens line doing with a 57xx ? Well that's a good question. There has been an extension added to the railway, which was planned. The line now cuts through a wall and into an adjacent closet to form a fiddle / storage area. That will represent a connection with the GWR, or S&D depending on what mood I'm in. The Boxer Bay Railway commences at "Windrush Junction" and curves off heading for Boxer Bay docks. At least that's the story I'm sticking with.  Now I need to get up my courage and have a go at weathering a loco or two,  wagons I enjoy,  locos make me nervous !

Slater's 4 Wheel Coach Build Update

 Quick update on my Slater's 4 wheel coach build,  chassis is all complete except a few minor details to be added after painting.  I substituted the supplied brass steps with my own made from Evergreen styrene plastic,  which made it easier to fit onto the supports.  Chassis will now be primed & painted black,  then I can start work on the coach body.  Overall it's a nice kit that has gone together well,  but it has taken awhile and I'm happy I only need to build 2 of these,  along with a MR bogie coach for my coaching stock.  Layout updates coming soon !

Vintage Thursday

 I know it's been a long time since an update,  and there has been a lot of progress on both some layout related projects and rolling stock,  so updates will be coming shortly.   

 For now,  I had to share this beautiful magazine cover art,  from Model Railway News  August 1960,  artwork by George Heiron.  How exciting is that for a cover,  makes you want to buy the magazine just for the cover,  unlike most of today's rather bland and uninteresting covers where the image is mostly obscured with lots of headlines about RTR reviews and exhibition reports.   

 What I would give to be able to paint like that !

Slater's 4 Wheel Coach Build 1

  Operating the railway over the Holidays,  there occurred to me something obvious was missing from the Time Table !  Ah yes,  we've got the station and platforms built at Windrush Junction,  but we haven't any Coaches to form the 9:15 to Boxer Bay !   The Railway has been officially opened to traffic now for over a year !   Col. Stephens to the rescue !    He has secured for the B.B.R., 2 nice 4 wheel coaches,  in good condition,  and not badly priced.  They're a bit old,  built in the 1890s.  but no matter,  a quick spruce up (build up) and they'll be as good as we need.

  This is my first coach kit,  a Slater's GWR 3rd Class Diagram S9  # 7C04.   GWR constructed most of these from 1891 to 1902.    This coach is destined to be painted and lettered for the B.B.R.,   GWR enthusiasts just turn your heads away and don't look !   I like the style of these coaches,  and I think they'll fit in with my free lance light railway.  The Kit is multimedia, plastic body and details,  brass details and chassis parts,  Lost wax brass fittings.   So far construction has been fairly straightforward and I'm enjoying it very much.  Directions are okay,  a few more photos or diagrams would have been useful.   For £79 or about $100 USD,  I believe it good value,  as Mansell wheels are included.  Still deciding on a paint scheme,  but I'm close to a nice dark blue with black chassis,  very similar to the S&D livery.  When in doubt,  copy the best !

A quick look at some of the main components of the kit

Construction so far,  going together better then I thought it would,  approx 1 hour into the build

Vintage Thursdays

 One of my passions is history,  be it railways,  or just about anything else.  If I could invent the Flux Capacitor and install it on my Honda I would.  While awaiting Doc Brown's DeLorean time machine to become a reality,  the next best thing is to enjoy what has traveled from the past,  and I do enjoy looking through vintage magazines.   I thought I'd start a new weekly blog posting showing either a model or model railway from out of the past.  Sharing what some of these really talented modelers achieved back in the day,  when you needed to have talent and ingenuity to get what you desired,  and to remember not to take for granted what we enjoy today in the form of supplies,  tools,  kits and RTR models that are superb.   The photos may not be top quality,  but I believe they have a bit of feeling and atmosphere to them.  Every Thursday check back for another slice of the past !    I wonder where these models are today,  did they survive ?  I hope so.

This week:
"Caley" In O Gauge  by  J.F. Vaux  (1960)  Model Railway News
A superb looking model railway featuring the Caledonian Railway.  According to the article it's construction began in 1920 !  Locos all being hand made.